Tommy Fleetwood top scored with four victories, Lowry remained unbeaten and Rory McIlroy delivered three and a half points
The Northern Irish golfer ventures into new territory by playing in India this week as he returns to competition for the first time since the Ryder Cup.
As the golf superstar expands his golfing horizons, the European golf circuit begins the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. The world-class golfer is in pole position to claim the annual championship for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall.
There are only three more events following the India Championship; the following week's Genesis Championship in South Korea - which concludes the 'Back Nine' phase of the tour calendar - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.
These particular big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and Dubai are exclusively available for the leading seventy and then leading fifty in the standings.
However for players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in the subcontinent, there is less pressure than you might imagine.
Sitting outside the seventieth position, at initial inspection it would seem both require high finishes from their visit to the Indian course to keep alive their campaigns. Yet, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their positions in the UAE and Dubai.
This is due to a little publicised but practical exception whereby members of the European squad are also deemed qualified for the upcoming closing tournaments.
Fleetwood, who won the American playoff series with his impressive victory at the season-ending event in Georgia, sits 94th in the European tour's season-long table. Lowry, who made the winning stroke that secured the Ryder Cup, is one hundred fifty-fifth.
Other squad members who can potentially benefit are Aberg (72nd) and Straka (147th).
This could question the integrity of a play-off system, which by definition is intended to bring intense high-stakes drama, but this situation also illustrates practical considerations faced by the headquartered European circuit.
The tour is reliant on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the title sponsors of this week's event in the Asian nation. They need the top players at their premier tournaments to justify the financial commitment, which amounts to millions of dollars.
The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his best seasons, highlighted by his maiden victory on American soil at East Lake just under two months ago.
He is one of the continent's elite players and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to host the upcoming season climax without him.
Common sense overrides pure competition, even though the world number five - a Dubai resident - has reserved his best performances for events that do not qualify on his home tour.
Fleetwood has so far played only four European tournaments and failed to finish in the leading twenty at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, flagship event or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The majors also count on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the Open was his sole high finish in the major events. But on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.
Fleetwood was also Europe's top points scorer at Bethpage last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be taking his place alongside the circuit's top performers at the conclusion of the campaign.
While in the past the PGA and European tours were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that underpins European tour financial rewards.
While the English golfer, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his closest rival at the top of the season championship, much of the interest for the rest of the season will have an American bias.
The storyline will be shaped by the competition for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not currently possess tour cards in the US. The rising star, with three European victories, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as advancement to the US circuit.
The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and Open with his Spanish success, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a last effort to try to overtake the leader at the peak of the rankings.
And the English competitor, the man Penge beat in the Spanish playoff, is one of several British golfers in the thick of the competition for a future US tour card.
Northern golfer John Parry and the West Country pair of Smith and Laurie Canter also currently occupy positions that would yield a valuable opportunity for next year.
Some observers see this scenario as proof that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a development tour for big brother on the other side of the pond.
But the DP World Tour maintain it is a crucial system that underpins their schedule, a necessary and attractive feature that maximises competitive chances for its participants.
Undoubtedly this is the season period where the realities and compromises of elite golf competition seem at their most evident.
